Bottom end stop for a slide fastener, and  a slide fastener comprising such a bottom end stop

ABSTRACT

A bottom end stop ( 10 ) for a slide fastener ( 1 ) is disclosed, which comprises a pair of stringer tapes ( 2 ) defining a gap ( 3 ) therebetween and provided, on their respective inner edges, with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements ( 5 ). The bottom end stop ( 10 ) comprises a rivet member ( 11 ) and a corresponding backplate ( 12 ). The backplate ( 12 ) is provided with at least one through aperture ( 12   a ). The rivet member ( 11 ) has at least one integral protruding pin ( 11   b ) adapted to be engaged through said at least one aperture ( 12   a ) of the backplate ( 12 ) and to be permanently deformed beyond and against the backplate ( 12 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The entire disclosure of Italian Patent Application No. T02006A000659 filed on Sep. 15, 2006 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bottom end stop for a slide fastener including a pair of left and right stringer tapes with a gap defined therebetween and provided on their respective inner edges with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bottom end stop comprising first and second fastening plate members adapted to be fastened to the stringer tapes, one on each side of the slide fastener, adjacent the bottom end of said rows of coupling elements, astride the gap between the tapes, said plate members being connected with each other by at least one connecting member extending perpendicularly of the stringer tapes or in the direction crossing from a front side to a rear side of the stringer tapes.

2. Description of the Related Art

A bottom end stop of this kind is disclosed for instance in EP-0 110 346-A1. The bottom end stop disclosed in that document has a so-called “butterfly” structure and is made in one single piece of metal. With this prior art bottom end stop, weaknesses have been found because of the need to bend the wings of the stop when attaching it to the stringer tapes.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved bottom end stop for a slide fastener which is free from the above-mentioned weaknesses.

SUMMARY

This and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a bottom end stop of the initially defined kind, characterised in that said first and second fastening plate members are a plate portion (11 a) of a rivet member (11) and a backplate (12), respectively; the backplate (12) being provided with at least one through aperture (12 a), the transverse connecting member (11 b) being one integral protruding pin (11 b) provided on the rivet member (11) and adapted to be engaged through said at least one aperture (12 a) of the backplate (12) and to be permanently deformed beyond and against the backplate (12).

When a bottom end stop according to the present invention is attached to a slide fastener, pressure can be applied evenly to deform the pin or pins of the rivet member and there is no need to bend any portions of the fastening plate members thereof.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent form the detailed description which follows by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a slide fastener comprising a bottom end stop according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the portion of a slide fastener shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the slide fastener as seen in the direction of arrow IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged cross-section view taken along line V-V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side view as seen in the direction of arrow VI of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the slide fastener portion shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a bottom end stop according to the present invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are a front view and a rear view, respectively, of an end portion of another slide fastener provided with a bottom end stop according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a slide fastener including a pair of left and right stringer tapes 2 having their respective opposed inner longitudinal edges. Between the opposed inner longitudinal edges there is defined a gap 3.

In the embodiment shown, on and along their respective inner edges the tapes 2 are provided with respective longitudinal reinforcing cords 4.

The inner edges of the tapes 2 are in a per se known manner provided with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements 5, such as metal teeth or injection-moulded teeth.

A bottom end stop according to the present invention, generally indicated 10, is fastened to the stringer tapes 2 of the zipper, adjacent the bottom end of said rows of coupling elements 5.

The bottom end stop 10 comprises two originally separate and distinct members, i.e. a rivet member 11 and a corresponding backplate 12 (see in particular FIG. 8).

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rivet member 11 comprises a plate portion 11 a, having a longitudinally elongated, substantially rectangular shape. The plate portion 11 a is provided on its inner surface with two integral protruding pins 11 b. These pins 11 b are arranged at a predetermined interval longitudinally of the plate portion 11 a. On the other hand, the back plate 12 has an elongated, substantially rectangular shape, as the plate portion 11 a of the rivet member 11. The back plate 12 has two through apertures 12 a formed perpendicularly therethrough, and these through apertures 12 a are arranged at a predetermined interval longitudinally of the back plate 12. The pins 11 b of the rivet member 11 is inserted through the corresponding apertures 12 a of the backplate 12 and engaged therewith so that the pins may not be pulled off the backplate 12. (See in particular FIGS. 3 and 8). Referring to FIG. 8, in the embodiment shown the pins 11 b have a substantially cylindrical proximal shank, ending with a substantially conical distal tip portion.

After passing through the through aperture 12 a of backplate 12, the parts of the pins 11 b of the rivet member 11 projecting beyond the backplate 12 are pressed against the backplate 12 for instance by beating and are thus plastically deformed. As an alternative, the pins 11 b might be heat-deformable, so that the pins 11 b have been deformed in such a manner that they will not be restored into the original shape permanently. With such deformation, the distal end of each pin 11 b is enlarged radially thereof to provide a bulged outline or shape which is greater than the corresponding through aperture 12 a, so that pins 11 b are prevented from coming off the through apertures 12 a.

Still referring to FIG. 8, the plate portion 11 a of the rivet member 11 has, in its face intended to be applied to the stringer tapes 2, a pair of longitudinal grooves 11 c. The pair of grooves 11 c are disposed on the right and left opposed sides of the plate portion 11 a with the two pins 11 b interposed therebetween in such a way that the grooves 11 c extend longitudinally in parallel with the plate portion 11 a. The grooves 11 c are adapted to receive and firmly grip the reinforcement cords 4 of the stringer tapes.

Advantageously, the plate portion 11 a of the rivet member 11 is also provided on its four corners with rows of sawteeth 13, which extend along the longitudinal grooves 11 c longitudinally of the plate portion 11 a. (See FIG. 8.) These rows of sawteeth 13 are adapted for gripping the corresponding stringer tapes 2. However, it is not necessarily needed to provide sawteeth rows.

Conveniently, the grooves 11 c may each have at least one protruding ridge 11 d extending transversely of the plate portion 11 a in such a way to cross the rectangular groove 11 c. Preferably, a plurality of protruding ridges 11 d are provided at predetermined intervals longitudinally of the plate portion 11 a. These protruding ridges 11 d are adapted to bite the reinforcing cords 4 of the corresponding stringer tapes 2. However, it is not necessarily needed to provide ridges.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the rivet member 11 and the backplate 12 of the bottom stop 10 are fastened to stringer tapes 2 in such a way that the pins 11 b of the rivet member 11 do not extend through the tapes 2. Instead, said pins extend through the gap 3 defined between the inner edges of the stringer tapes 2. Namely, the pins 11 b extend perpendicularly of the stringer tapes 2 and are inserted through the gap 3. The stringer tapes 2, and particularly the reinforcing cords 4 thereof, are firmly clasped between the plate portion 11 a of the rivet member 11 and the associated backplate 12. At this instant, since the longitudinal reinforcing cord 4 of each stringer tape 2 is received in the corresponding longitudinal groove 11 c provided in the plate portion 11 a of the rivet member 11; even if stresses are exerted tending to pull stringer tapes 2 apart from each other, the longitudinal reinforcing cord 4 is firmly retained by the outer side edge of the longitudinal groove 11 c, so that the stringer tapes 2 are well prevented from being pulled out from between the plate portion 11 a and the backplate 12. Furthermore, since the rows of sawteeth 13 provided on the plate portion 11 a firmly grip stringer tapes 2 and the protruding ridges 11 d provided on the longitudinal grooves 11 c bite the reinforcing cords 4; even if the stringer tapes 2 are subjected to forces tending to pull the stringer tapes 2 longitudinally thereof, the stringer tapes 2 are prevented from being pulled out from between the plate portion 11 a and the backplate 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the stringer tapes 2 at their bottom ends are provided with (at least one) respective through aperture (not visible in said Figures) and the rivet member 11 has its pins 11 b engaged through these apertures of the tapes 2, as well as through the corresponding apertures 12 a of the backplate 12, in such a way that the bottom stop 10 as a whole transversely crosslinks the tapes.

The outer surface of the rivet member 11 and/or that of the backplate 12 may be used to apply thereto a trade name or a trade mark or the like. The general shape of the member 11 and/or the backplate 12 may be varied in order to best accommodate a customer's desires for a particular logo.

Though in the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described above the rivet member 11 is provided with grooves, sawteeth and protruding ridges at the same time, in general the rivet member might be provided with only one or more of said features. Furthermore, the sawteeth and the ridges, if at all present, might extend in any direction parallel to the plate portion of the rivet member.

With the construction as mentioned above, when a bottom end stop according to the present invention is attached to a slide fastener, pressure can be applied evenly to deform the pin or pins of the rivet member, and there is no need to bend any portions of the fastening plate members thereof. Therefore, the bottom end stop is very firm and will never be easily broken.

Although the description above contains many specificities, there should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.

Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A bottom end stop for a slide fastener comprising a pair of stringer tapes defining a gap therebetween and provided on their respective inner edges with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements; the bottom end stop comprising first and second fastening plate members adapted to be fastened to the stringer tapes, one on each side of the slide fastener, adjacent the bottom end of said rows of coupling elements, astride the gap between the tapes; said plate members being connected with each other by at least one transverse connecting member; said first and second fastening plate members being a plate portion of a rivet member and a backplate, respectively; the backplate being provided with at least one through aperture, the transverse connecting member being one integral protruding pin provided on the rivet member and adapted to be engaged through said at least one aperture of the backplate and to be permanently deformed beyond and against the backplate.
 2. A bottom end stop according to claim 1, wherein the rivet member has a plurality of integral protruding pins and the backplate has a corresponding plurality of through apertures.
 3. A bottom end stop according to claim 1 or 2, for a slide fastener in which the inner edges of the stringer tapes are provided with respective longitudinal reinforcing cords, the plate portion of the rivet member in its face intended to be applied to the tapes being provided with a pair of parallel grooves adapted to receive and grip the reinforcing cords of the stringer tapes.
 4. A bottom end stop according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion of the rivet member is provided with rows of sawteeth for gripping the stringer tapes.
 5. A bottom end stop according to claim 1, wherein said rivet members is provided with at least one protruding ridge adapted to bite the reinforcing cord(s) of the stringer tape(s).
 6. A slide fastener provided with a bottom end stop according to any of the preceding claims.
 7. A slide fastener according to claim 6, wherein the backplate and the rivet member are fastened to the stringer tapes in such a way that the pin or pins of the rivet member extend through the gap between the stringer tapes.
 8. A slide fastener according to claim 6, wherein the stringer tapes at their bottom ends are provided with at least one respective through aperture, and the rivet member has at least two integral pins engaged through said apertures of the tapes and the corresponding apertures of the backplate. 